Air compressor

ABSTRACT

An air compressor includes a main device on which an air tube collector or an electric wire collector is mounted. The air tube collector includes a bracket mounted on the main device, a rotary member pivoted to the bracket and coupled to an air tube, and a crank connected to the rotary member for driving the rotary member to rotate for enabling the air tube be wound around the rotary member. The electric wire collector includes a housing mounted on the main device and defining therein an accommodation chamber, a reel rotatably mounted in the accommodation chamber of the housing and coupled with an electric wire, and a spring member having an end mounted to the reel and the other end mounted to the housing. The elastic force of the spring member is capable of rotating the reel to have the electric wire be wound around the reel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to air compressors and more particularly, to improving the convenience and safety of an air compressor.

2. Description of the Related Art

A regular air compressor generally includes a motor, an electric wire electrically connected to the motor, an air storage tank coupled to the motor, an air tube communicating with the air storage tank, and a pressure gauge in air communication between the air storage tank and the air tube. The motor is driven by electricity to pump air into the air storage tank, thereby compressing air. The pressure gauge controls the pressure of air outputted from the air storage tank into the air tube for application, for example, driving a pneumatic tool that is connected to an exit of the air tube.

The aforesaid air tube has one end connected to the air storage tank, and the other end for connection to a pneumatic tool so as to guide the compressed air into the pneumatic tool. The air tube usually has a certain length so that the user can move the pneumatic tool to different location during working. However, this feature causes inconvenience in storage of the air tube after work. When the air compressor is not in use, the user usually directly wraps the air tube about the air compressor conveniently for a next use. However, the air tube may be tangled when used next time. Besides, arranging the air tube in this manner causes no sense of beauty. Alternatively, a binding device may be used to secure the air tube in place; however, it is inconvenient to do this way.

Further, the aforesaid electric wire has one end connected to the motor and the other end for connection to a power socket to transmit electric current to the motor. However, the electric wire of a regular air compressor has a limited length. If the power socket at the work place is far from reach of the electric wire, an extension wire will be needed. If an air compressor uses a long length of electric wire to solve the aforesaid problem instead of using an extension wire, the storage of the long length of electric wire will cause another problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one objective of the present invention to provide an air compressor, which includes an air tube collector for taking up/letting off the air tube and/or an electric wire collector for taking up/letting off the electric wire rapidly and neatly. The invention allows use of a long length of electric wire and/or a long length of air tube, eliminating the trouble of the use of an extension electric wire or an extension air tube.

To achieve this objective of the present invention, a main device provided by the air compressor in the present invention includes a motor, an electric wire electrically connected to the motor, an air storage tank coupled to the motor, an air tube communicating with the air storage tank, and a pressure gauge in air communication between the air storage tank and the air tube. The air tube collector includes a bracket mounted on the main device, a rotary member coupled to the bracket and the air tube, and a crank connected to the rotary member for driving the rotary member to rotate relative to the bracket for enabling the air tube be wound around the rotary member. The electric wire collector includes a housing mounted on the main device and defining therein an accommodation chamber, a reel rotatably mounted in the accommodation chamber of the housing and coupled with the electric wire, and a spring member having an end connected to the reel and the other end connected to the housing. The elastic force of the spring member is capable of rotating the reel in one direction to have the electric wire be wound around the reel.

The main device can further include a trolley having a substantially U-shaped profile and including a bottom portion on which the air storage tank is supported, at least one wheel pivoted to the bottom portion, and a handle at the top of a first side thereof. The wheel is substantially disposed at the bottom of the first side of the trolley. The trolley has a bumper around the pressure gauge at the top of a second side thereof opposite to the first side. The trolley can make the air compressor moved conveniently and the bumper can prevent the pressure gauge from impact by external force that may cause damage of the pressure gauge.

The main device can further include a tool tray mounted on the trolley for holding tools.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air compressor in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an electric wire collector of the air compressor in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an air tube collector of the air compressor in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the air tube collector of the air compressor in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, an air compressor 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a main device 20, an electric wire collector 30 and an air tube collector 40.

The main device 20 includes a motor 21, an electric wire 22, an air storage tank 23, an air tube 24, a pressure gauge 25, a trolley 26, and a tool tray 27.

The motor 21 is mounted above the air storage tank 23 and adapted to pump air into the air storage tank 23, thereby compressing air. The electric wire 22 is electrically connected to the motor 21 and connectible to a power socket for conducting electric current to drive the motor 21. The air storage tank 23 has its top side coupled to the motor 21 and its bottom side affixed onto the bottom portion 261 of the trolley 26. The air tube 24 has one end communicating with the air storage tank 23, and the other end equipped with an exit 242 connectible to a pneumatic tool. The pressure gauge 25 has one end connected in air communication to the air storage tank 23 and affixed thereto, and the other end connected in air communication to the air tube 24 for controlling the pressure of air outputted from the air storage tank 23 to the air tube 24.

The trolley 26 is formed of multiple rod members, showing a substantially U-shaped profile. The bottom portion 261 of the trolley 26 includes two bottom rods 262, two wheels 263 and two pads 264. The two bottom rods 262 are arranged in parallel. The air storage tank 23 is fixedly mounted on the bottom rods 262. The pads 264 are fixedly connected to the bottom sides of the bottom rods 262. The two wheels 263 are rotatably located at one side of the bottom portion 261 of the trolley 26 distant from the pads 264. Thus, the wheels 263 and the pads 264 support the air compressor 10 on the floor. The trolley 26 further has a handle 266 at the top of a first side thereof. The handle 266 and the wheels 263 are substantially disposed at the same side of the trolley 26. Thereby, the user can hold the handle 266 to tilt the trolley 26 and to further move the trolley 26 by means of the wheels 263. The trolley 26 further has a bumper 267 at the top of a second side thereof opposite to the first side. The bumper 267 is disposed around the pressure gauge 25 to protect the pressure gauge 25 from impact. The tool tray 27 has one side affixed to the trolley 26 between the motor 21 and the handle 266 for holding tools.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electric wire collector 30 includes a housing 32, a reel 34 and a spring member 36.

The housing 32 is affixed to the main device 20 and formed of two half shells 321 abutted with each other and defining therein an accommodation chamber 322. One half shell 321 has an axle 323 perpendicularly extending from the inner surface thereof and suspending in the center of the accommodation chamber 322. The axle 323 has a longitudinal crevice 324. The reel 34 is disposed in the accommodation chamber 322, connected with the electric wire 22 and sleeved onto the axle 323. The reel 34 can be turned about the axle 323 to take up or let off the electric wire 22. In normal situation, the electric wire 22 is wound around the reel 34. The reel 34 has a stop plate set 342 and a locating plate 344 protruding from its one side. According to the present embodiment, the stop plate set 342 includes three arched stop plates 346 that are equiangularly spaced around the center of the reel, defining a circular space. The locating plate 344 defines with one arched stop plate 346 a locating groove 348. The spring member 36 according to the present embodiment is a spiral spring in the circular space defined by the arched stop plates 346, having an end inserted into the longitudinal crevice 324 and the other end inserted into the locating groove 348. Therefore, when the reel 34 is rotated to let off the electric wire 22 by an external force, the spring member 36 is driven to produce a return elastic force for reversing rotation of the reel 34 after disappearance of the external force. When the reel 34 is reversely rotated in one direction, the electric wire 22 is taken up and wound around the reel 34 again.

Further, the housing 32 has an outlet part 325. The electric wire 22 extends out of the accommodation chamber 322 to the outside of the housing 32 through the outlet part 325, and is movable forwards or backwards relative to the outlet part 325. One half shell 321 has two pairs of upright lugs 326,327 extending from the outlet part 325, a locking lever 329 and a press plate 328. One pair of upright lugs 326 have an extending height greater than the other pair of upright lugs 327. A passage 350 is defined between the two pairs of upright lugs 326 and 327 for the passing of the electric wire 22. The locking lever 329 and the press plate 328 are respectively pivoted to the upright lugs 326,327. An end of the press plate 328 is pivotally connected between the two relatively shorter upright lugs 327, and an end of the locking lever 329 is a cam 330 and eccentrically, pivotally connected between the two relatively taller upright lugs 326. Because the position of locking lever 329 is above the press plate 328, when turning the locking lever 329, the cam 330 forces the press plate 328 to move toward the passage 350 to press on the electric wire 22 located in the passage 350 so as to position the electric wire 22.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the air tube collector 40 includes a bracket 42, a cover 44, a rotary member 46 and a crank 48.

The bracket 42 has a front panel 421, a back panel 422, a top panel 423 and a bottom panel 424. The two opposite ends of the top panel 423 are respectively connected to the top ends of the front panel 421 and back panel 422. The two opposite ends of the bottom panel 424 are respectively connected to the bottom ends of the front panel 421 and back panel 422. Therefore, the front panel 421, the back panel 422, the top panel 423 and the bottom panel 424 define a receiving chamber 425. The back panel 422 is affixed to the main device 20. Further, the front panel 421 has a through hole 426 in communication with the receiving chamber 425, and an annular flange 470. The annular flange 470 is protruded from the front panel 421 around the through hole 426 toward the inside of the receiving chamber 425. Similarly, the back panel 422 has a through hole 427 aligned with the through hole 426 of the front panel 421, and an annular flange 471 corresponding to the annular flange 470 of the front panel 421.

The cover 44 is affixed to the bracket 42 to cover the bracket 42, the rotary member 46 and the air tube 24, having a clip 442 for securing the terminal part of the air tube 24 after the air tube 24 has been received inside the cover 44.

The rotary member 46 has a hollow center shaft 461. The hollow center shaft 461 has one end inserted into the annular flange 470 (i.e., the through hole 426) of the front panel 421 and the other end sleeved onto the annular flange 471 of the back panel 422, such that the rotary member 46 is supported in the receiving chamber 425 and turnable by the center shaft 461 relative to the bracket 42. The hollow center shaft 461 has a side hole 462 through the cylindrical wall thereof.

One end of the air tube 24 is inserted through the side hole 462 into the inside of the hollow center shaft 461. The air tube collector 40 further includes a connector 49. The connector 49 has one end communicating with the air storage tank 23 through a tube, and the other end inserted through the through hole 427 of the back panel 422 and then connected to the end of the air tube 24 inside the hollow center shaft 461. Therefore, the air tube 24 is kept in communication with the air storage tank 23. The rotary member 46 has a plurality of wings 463 connected to and arranged around the hollow center shaft 461. Each wing 463 has a base plate 464 and two side plates 465. The side plates 465 each have a bottom end connected to one of the two distal ends of the base plate 464. Therefore, each wing 463 defines a receiving space 466 for receiving the air tube 24 around the hollow center shaft 461.

The crank 48 has a stop flange 482 and a coupling portion 484 at its one end. The coupling portion 484 extends outwards from the stop flange 482. The stop flange 482 has a cross-sectional diameter greater than the diameter of the through hole 426 of the front panel 421. The coupling portion 484 has a cross-sectional diameter smaller than the diameter of an end hole 472 at one end of the cylindrical wall of the hollow center shaft 461. The stop flange 482 of the crank 48 is inserted through the cover 44 and stopped at the outer surface of the front panel 421 around the through hole 426. The coupling portion 484 is inserted into the end hole 472 of the hollow center shaft 461, and then a screw 50 is driven into the hollow center shaft 461 and the coupling portion 484 to affix the crank 48 to the rotary member 46. Therefore, the user can operate the crank 48 to rotate the rotary member 46, thereby causing the air tube 24 to be wound around the wings 463 of the rotary member 46.

When wanting to use the electric wire 22, the user needs only to release the locking lever 329, pull the electric wire 22 out of the housing 32 to the desired length and then turn the locking lever 329 inwards to lock the electric wire 22. When wanting to gather the electric wire 22 after the work, release the locking lever 329, enabling the spring member 36 to reverse the reel 34, and therefore the electric wire 22 is received in the housing 32. Further, when wanting to use the air tube 24, the user needs only to remove the terminal part of the air tube 24 from the clip 442 and then pull the air tube 24 out of the air tube collector 40 to the desired length for working. When wanting to gather the air tube 24 after the work, operate the crank 48 to rotate the rotary member 46, and the air tube 24 will be wrapped around the rotary member 46 neatly and received inside the cover 44.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. 

1. An air compressor comprising: a main device having a motor, an electric wire electrically connected to the motor, an air storage tank coupled to the motor, an air tube communicating with the air storage tank, and a pressure gauge in air communication between the air storage tank and the air tube; and an air tube collector having a bracket mounted on the main device, a rotary member coupled to the bracket and the air tube, and a crank connected to the rotary member for driving the rotary member to rotate relative to the bracket for enabling the air tube be wound around the rotary member.
 2. The air compressor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air tube collector further comprises a cover fastened to the bracket to shade the bracket, the rotary member and the air tube.
 3. The air compressor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main device further comprises a trolley having a bottom portion on which the air storage tank is supported, at least one wheel pivoted to the bottom portion, and a handle at the top of a first side thereof.
 4. The air compressor as claimed in claim 3, wherein the trolley has a substantially U-shaped profile; the wheel is substantially disposed at the bottom of the first side of the trolley; and the trolley has a bumper around the pressure gauge at the top of a second side thereof opposite to the first side.
 5. The air compressor as claimed in claim 3, wherein the main device further comprises a tool tray mounted on the trolley between the motor and the handle for holding tools.
 6. The air compressor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotary member comprises a hollow center shaft rotatably connected to the bracket and provided with a cylindrical wall defining two end holes and a side hole; and the air tube has a part entering into the hollow center shaft from one of the two end holes and passes through the side hole.
 7. The air compressor as claimed in claim 6, wherein the crank has one end fixedly connected to the hollow center shaft of the rotary member.
 8. The air compressor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an electric wire collector having a housing mounted on the main device and defining therein an accommodation chamber, a reel rotatably mounted in the accommodation chamber of the housing and coupled with the electric wire, and a spring member having an end connected to the reel and the other end connected to the housing such that the elastic force of the spring member is capable of rotating the reel in one direction to have the electric wire be wound around the reel.
 9. The air compressor as claimed in claim 8, wherein the housing has an axle with a longitudinal crevice; the reel has a set of stop plates and a locating plate protruding from one side thereof, the locating plate defining with one of the stop plates a locating groove; and the spring member is disposed in a space surrounded by the stop plates, having an end inserted into the locating groove and the other end inserted into the crevice of the axle.
 10. The air compressor as claimed in claim 8, wherein the housing has an outlet part through which the electric wire moveably extends to the outside of the housing, a press plate pivoted to the outlet part, and a locking lever having a cam pivoted to the outlet part and peripherally disposed in contact with the press plate in such a manner that when the locking lever is turned relative to the outlet part, the press plate is forced by the cam to press on the electric wire.
 11. The air compressor as claimed in claim 8, wherein the spring member is a spiral spring. 